Sponsor education of a child; Khayelitsha
Sponsor a book! A LIBRARY OPENS IN KHAYELITSHA
On 31 May 2007, SERI opened a small library in Khayelitsha at the Centre of Science and Technology [COSAT]. So far, it carries a stock of just over 1100 books, carefully chosen to stimulate and amuse teenagers of varying English-language ability. It is used by the COSAT students, as well as by the Fun’ulwazi Grade 8s and 9s [from our outreach programme for younger students], so, in reality, this little “imagination station” of ours is servicing no fewer than 16 Khayelitsha schools.
These students do not have English as their mother tongue and mastering English is one of the greatest challenges they face. In fact, they cannot reach their full potential UNTIL they become proficient. Reading is a vital part of this process, and, furthermore, it increases general knowledge and develops emotional maturity. SO, ONE CAN SAFELY SAY THAT THIS LIBRARY IS CENTRAL TO THE SUCCESSFUL OVERALL DEVELOPMENT OF EACH COSAT STUDENT.
In case you don’t know, COSAT is a small Science and Maths school for talented Grade 10 to 12 students, mostly from very disadvantaged backgrounds. They have all been handpicked from the local schools to study Maths, Science and IT in preparation for tertiary studies in Science-related fields. COSAT has a brilliant academic record and is a rare phenomenon – a centre of excellence in a township environment. It is the most successful Maths and Science intervention in the Western Cape.
The person driving the library project is Helen George, who taught English at COSAT from 1999 until the end of last year, when she retired from formal teaching. THE SERI ‘BOOK-RAISING’ DRIVE – WE NEED YOUR HELP! WHY? WE JUST DON’T HAVE ENOUGH BOOKS! Of necessity, the books cater for a wide range of abilities and tastes and we desperately need to increase the stock so that there is enough for everyone to read, now and in the future. At this stage, students can only take out one book at a time and the library is not open every day.
To sustain the present level of enthusiasm we need lots more books.
HOW? You can help in one [or more] of three ways:
1. Through kalahari.net, buy a book [or books] from the wish-list provided.
2. Give a donation to the BOOK FUND. [This will give us a chance to buy suitable cut-price and second-hand books.
3. Donate suitable books from your home [and from the homes of your nearest and dearest]. Phone Helen, on +27 83 6511252 to make the necessary arrangements.
1. TO BUY A BOOK FROM THE WISH-LIST [Apologies if you’re a computer buff!]:
1. Click on this wish-list link.
2. Choose a book and jot down the ISBN number, title and author.
3. Go to http://www.kalahari.net/. Click on BOOKS [the orange prompt at the top].
4. In the SEARCH section [left-hand side of the screen], scroll down from keyword to ISBN.
5. Click on the space below and type in the ISBN number.
6. Then click on the little arrow in the orange dot and wait.
7. The title and author that you have written down should appear.
8. Click on add to basket.
9. Then click on the double arrow next to to check out on the right-hand side of the screen.
10. Then fill in all the information that is required thereafter.
11. MAKE SURE THAT THE DELIVERY ADDRESS IS AS FOLLOWS: Recipient’s name: Helen George Recipient’s address: 8 Wellington Walk Wynberg Cape Town 7800 Telephone: 021 7612194 or 083 6511252
12. PLEASE immediately send Helen an email ( georges@klg.co.za), stating your name and the title of the book that you have bought. I will then remove the title from the wish-list. I will email you as soon as the book arrives. You can rest assured that the book will be processed, covered and on a library shelf within seven days.
2. TO GIVE A DONATION TO THE BOOK FUND
The SERI banking details are as follows: Account holder: SERI Bank: Standard Bank Branch: Blue Route Branch Code: 02560920 Account number: 270056335
In the beneficiary reference, please enter BOOKFUND [SERI is a registered non-profit organisation, so company donations are tax-deductable.] REMEMBER . . . All donors have an open-ended invitation to visit the SERI library. Just phone Helen on one of the above numbers and we can set it up.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
